Nowadays, people believe that DSLRs are losing their significance. Especially after day-to-day updates and great features in mobile cameras, people invest in an all-rounder phone rather than buying an expensive DSLR. However, just like a jeweler knows the value of diamonds, only a true photographer knows the value of a DSLR. DSLRs are still popular among photographers and youth as it’s not just mobile phones that are developing now; even DSLRS have more advanced equipment for experience and to get on peak pictures. There are many benefits of a DSLR over a phone camera, including a fantastic photography experience even in low lights, shooting the entire day on a single battery, comfortable grip, numerous options, and choosing different lenses for your specific type of photography. Now, do you need clarification about lenses and their use? Let us clear that up.
Types of Basic Camera Lenses and their uses
Lenses are the heart of DSLR. DSLRs are only helpful if you use the right lenses for your photography. Using a standard lens for different types of photography, like wedding shots, landscape, animal photography, etc., may give you good results but could be better. Let’s break down six basic lenses and their use to make it easy.
#1. Prime Lens
Prime Lenses are best for beginners and most suggested by photographers. They can help you improvise filmmaking and photography as they rely on fewer mechanics than other lenses. Hence, these are the best choices if you are new to the lens market. These lenses have a wide aperture of f/2.8, f/1.8, etc., and are smaller, lighter, and faster than zoom lenses. These lenses are widely used for shooting HD videos, portraits, nature, flora, landscape, low light, and more.
#2. Zoom Lens
As the name suggests, Zoom lenses zoom at a particular object or substance to bring focus or attention to it. The difference between the phone’s zoom feature and this lens is its focus maintenance. Zoom lenses maintain focus on the subject even after changes in focal length. An individual can change the focal length of the object without moving even an inch physically to bring professional and transparent videography. These lenses have physical mechanisms which photographers use to zoom in and out or change the focal length. The Zoom lens is widely used for wildlife photography, street photography, landscape, etc. These lenses let you take pictures from different focal lengths without moving and help to record smooth zoom-in-and-out videos.
#3. Fisheye Lens
Fisheye is one of the unique wide-angle lenses which creates a 180-degree or spherical view of the frame. This lens is called a Fisheye lens, as it shows the picture from the perspective of a fish’s eye. Perfection in Fisheye lenses is complex, and an individual must be creative to gain the best abstract and variety of pictures. These lenses are versatile. Hence, using these lenses is relatively easy. However, learning to use this lens can be challenging compared to other lenses. These lenses are widely used for nature photography, crowds, architecture, monuments, etc., as they bring out the subject differently and creatively.
#4. Wide-angle Lens
Wide-angle lenses are one of the famous lenses in a photographer’s kit. These are common and multi-purpose lenses. These lenses have less focal length than other lenses, which can be 35mm or even shorter. The shorter the focal length, the wider will be your field length. Wide-angle lenses significantly change the picture even with slight physical changes by the user; it can be forward, backward, left, or right. These lenses make close objects look larger and distanced objects look more petite. Wide-angle lenses are preferable for landscape, travel, interior, architecture, or real estate photography. These lenses provide a real eye perspective and make objects look more expensive and attractive.
#5. Telephoto Lens
Telephoto lenses are helpful in most photography niches as they allow the user to click a unique and active picture even from a significant distance. This lens can take your skill to peak with some best shots in your gallery regardless of portrait, wildlife, or any other kind of photography. Telephoto lenses work like a telescope, making the subject look closer to the camera than reality (at a considerable distance only). These lenses are beneficial when shooting an object you can’t reach, like a waterfall or flying bird, or if it’s unsafe to go closer, like wildlife photography, etc. The focal length of these lenses may be between 70 – 200mm.
#6. Macro Lens
The Macro lenses are best friends of insect photographers as they give them typical close-up pictures, including every minor detail. These have brought an advanced revolution in photography. These lenses magnify the objects to look bigger, and the subject stays focused and gives you every tiny detail of the subject, even if you go very close to it. Macro lenses are preferable for nature photography and videography, which includes flowers, insects, raindrops, etc.
Factors to keep in Mind while Choosing a DSLR Lens
As we have cleared you about basic lenses and their uses, you will be clear about what kind of lens you want as per your photography interest or need. But before you dive in to buy your DSLR a new lens, here are a few points you should consider.
Aperture
The aperture is a critical element of a camera. It is the opening of a lens through which light passes. Aperture is generally measured by numbers 1.4, 5.6, 11, etc. Aperture plays a significant role in the look of the picture. The size of the aperture decides the sharpness of the subject and its background. If the aperture is significant, the picture has less depth, and the background becomes blurred. If the aperture is low, the picture has field depth and sharp background.
Focal length
Focal length is the measurement associated with your lens, like 50mm, 35mm, etc. This measurement is the distance between your focal point on the camera’s sensor and your lens’s optical center. Keeping a check on the focal length measurement is essential as it tells how much this lens can magnify your subject while taking the shot. Besides this, it also decides what angle picture you will get, like wide angle, zoomed, cropped, or focused.
Mount Type
Lens mount is an opening where the camera allows the users to attach different lenses to the camera. But what is essential in this opening is the size. Every camera mount has a specific size; hence you should attach lenses accordingly. Modern cameras have a mechanism that allows the camera and lenses to communicate for better pictures and outcomes. This is only possible if you attach lenses that fix the camera properly. Moreover, this feature has made the mount more than a hole.
Image Stabilization
Image stabilization, or you can also call it vibration reduction, is a feature that helps you to take a fantastic shot even if your camera shakes or the subject moves physically. Camera vibration can be caused if you’re not using a tripod, your lens is too long, or you need to be habituated for your camera. Looking over this factor is essential no matter which niche photography you do. Nowadays, DSLRs contain gyro sensors that help in image stabilization and correct your picture even if your camera shakes.
Brand
This common question will surely come to mind while shopping for lenses: buy a lens of the same brand as your camera or go for the other one. Most photographers believe you should first consider buying a lens of the same brand as the brand looks over the size and right type better. However, choosing other brand lenses is correct if you can’t find a lens required for interest at the same budget or time. It is better to research lenses and check reviews before investing money. There are many good websites to buy your preferable lenses online and compare them. Here are some excellent lenses you can choose from for your photography.
Altura Photo Wide-angle Lens
Altura is a well-known brand and provides the best lenses for high-peak photography. The Altura Photo 0.43X Wide-angle Lens is an alternative and good competition to other professional lenses. The plus point of this lens is that it can be both a wide-angle and macro lens. You have to unscrew the bottom portion, and here you go. Now, you can easily take close-up shots of small objects without changing the lens. This lens is also available in sizes like 58mm, 49mm, 52mm, and 55mm. So, you can pick any dimension according to your camera size. The key features of this lens include an increase in field length by 0.43X for best photographs, being made with multi-coated glass optics, and more.
Canon 85mm Telephoto Lens
Canon has always been a top name in camera and lens manufacturing, and here is one more creation by them. The Canon’s 85mm L-series Lens is the first one with IS (Image Stabilization) capability. This lens has an advanced optical formula with a better diameter and bright f/1.4 maximum aperture to give you sharp and detailed pictures. The key features of this lens include that they are dust and water-resistant. Hence, you don’t have to worry about the lens even in a harsh environment. The lens has excellent image stabilization, a circular aperture, and more.
Canon EF 70-200mm Telephoto lens
These are one of the best lenses of Canon, whose Focal length is between 70-200mm with a maximum aperture of f2.8 in the entire zoom range. The Canon EF 70-200mm provides impressive clarity and upgrades your skills and gallery. The key features of this lens include air sphere coating, which minimizes the flare, optical image stabilizer, which stops shake correction up to 3.5, dust and water resistance, and more.
Irix Dragonfly Macro Lens
Irix is a known brand, and Irix 150mm f/2.8 Macro Dragonfly Lenses are 2019 models with a maximum focal length of 150mm. This lens is ideally best for close-up shooting and is a very versatile macro lens designed for high-resolution DSLR cameras. The key features of this lens include a fast aperture which gives you a short exposure time. It possesses a 1:1 magnification scale to give you a detailed picture while keeping your comfort even more superior. Besides, there are many more features like durable design, exceptional optics, and more. However, image stabilization isn’t provided, but these lenses are adaptable for experts or tripod users.
Nikon 200-500mm Zoom Lens
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 200-500mm is best for all kinds of photography. You can click the best shots of nature, lifestyle, wildlife, and fast-moving subjects like birds, athletes, sports, etc. This lens has a fantastic mechanism that helps you click still photos and perform videography too. The key features of this lens include up to 4.5 stops of vibration or camera shake correction, fast and constant aperture, 500mm zoom power on fx and 750mm on dx format, and more.
Tamron Wide-angle Telephoto Lens
Tamron is the most suggested alternative lens brand to get the best compatible lens for the camera as per your requirements. The Tamron 18-400m is the world’s first 22.2x ultra-telephoto high zoom power camera. This lens has impressive optical performance with an excellent zoom range, wide-angle, and ultra-telephoto. The key features of this lens include moisture resistance, which is accurate, quick, and quiet with autofocus and more.
Canon EF-S 55-250mm
If you are looking forward to adding a fantastic lens to bring grace to your photography or videography, this lens is the best one for you. Canon’s EF 55-250mm lens, which comes with a maximum aperture of 5.6, is excellent and has a maximum magnification of 0.29x. It is a must-have lens in your kit if you are interested in telephoto lenses. Its key features include the new six-group zoom system, lightweight design, image stabilization of up to 3.5 equivalent stops, vibration correction, and more.
Nikon 70-300mm Telephoto Lens
If you are looking for a super-telephoto zoom lens, then Nikon 70-300mm Telephoto Lens is here with VR image stabilization for clear and sharp results. These are specially optimized for DX-format DSLRs. This lens has a maximum focal length of 300mm and a minimum focal length of 70mm. This lens is preferably suggested for wildlife, sports, and concert photography as it gives a high peak clear picture because of its vibration reduction feature. The key features include ultra-fast autofocus, outstanding optics to get the best stills and HD pictures, and a minimum aperture of 32mm.
Nikon AF FX Nikkor 50mm Lens
These are regular lenses, or you can say prime lenses. It is most recommended for beginners. The focal length of these lenses is limited to 50mm, and the focus distance is 1.5ft. What makes this lens different is its circular polarizer which is one of the most popular special effect filters. However, the Nikon AF FX Nikkor 50mm lens doesn’t have an inbuilt autofocus feature. Hence, using the same camera brand for that feature is better.
Big Mike’s Telephoto Lens
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced photographer, this lens must be in your kit. These High-Power Telephoto Lenses are combined with a Canon T-mount adapter, making them easy to use with most of Canon’s cameras, like T1i, T2i, EOS 1D, EOS 5D, and more. The key features of this lens include gear accessories, low dispersion multi-coated optical glass, 500mm focal length, and more.
Opteka Super-Telephoto Zoom Lens
Opteka’s advanced lens gives you outstanding performance with your DSLR and, most preferably, with Canon’s cameras. This is the most recommended lens for photographers to upgrade their gallery at a budget-friendly price. Opteka’s telephoto zoom is suitable for both professionals and beginners, as this zoom lens is versatile and easy to use. This lens comes with an aperture of 16 and a push/pull mechanism for zoom and manual focus. Besides this, many new features like multi-coated four optical glasses and a built-in rotating tripod mount help in stabilization.
Conclusion
Choosing an appropriate camera and also camera lens is one of the most significant decisions a photographer must make, considering many important, relevant points concerning their budget. There are numerous lens options, but one must ensure mount type, requirement, and battery life to invest the money right.
